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Jos Antonio (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Jos Antonio'", sometimes also known as "'Caballo de paso'", is a song written and performed by Chabuca Granda. The song is in the tondero style. It was a tribute to friend of Granda's father and horse breeder who helped save the Peruvian Paso horse.
Composition
Granda wrote "Jos Antonio" in 1957 as a tribute to (1888-1957), a friend of her father, agronomist, and horse breeder who was responsible for the recovery of the Peruvian Paso breed of horse. The actual Jos Antonio died in May 1957.
The song's lyrics describe Jos Antonio as he rides his horse wearing a jipijapa (Panama hat), Creole Berber, scarf and poncho, and holding silk reins. Later, the song transitions to a farewell to Jos Antonio: "Jos Antonio, Jos Antonio,
por qu me dejaste aqu? Cuando te vuelva a encontrar
que sea junio y gare" ("Jose Antonio, Jose Antonio,
Why did you leave me here? When I find you again let it be June and garue.").Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", p. 205.
Recording history
In 1961, Mario Cavagnaro, the head of the "Sono Radio" record label, proposed an album compiling Granda's best compositions. The album was titled "Lo mejor de Chabuca Granda" ("The Best of Chabuca Granda"). Granda was allowed to select her favorite interpreters to perform on the album. For "Jos Antonio", she chose Jess Vsquez, known as La Reina y Seora de la Cancin Criolla.Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", pp. 59-60, 170.
In 1967, Granda's international reputation grew following tours of the United States and South America. During this tour, she performed at times with singer-songwriter-guitarist scar Avils, and the pair released an album, "Dialogando" (Iempsa, 1968), which included "Jos Antonio".Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", pp. 70, 73.
In the 1960s, Granda also released the album, "Voz y vena de Chabuca Granda" ("Voice and vein of Chabuca Granda"), on which she sang her own compositions, including "Jos Antonio".Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", p. 73.
In 1973, Granda recorded the song again for her album, "Grande De Amrica", produced for the RCA Victor label. For the album's recording of "Jos Antonio", she was accompanied by scar Avils on guitar and by Chucho Ferrer on organ.Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", p. 86. This version was one of four Granda songs included on RCA's 2003 compilation celebrating 100 years of Latin American folklore music, "Lo Mejor del Folklore Latinoamericano: Coleccion RCA 100 Anos de Musica".
The song also appeared on Granda's albums, "Tarimba negra" (Movieplay, 1978) and "Cada cancin con su razn" ("Each song with its reason") (EMI-Odeon, 1981).Sarmiento, "Llego Rasgando Cielos, Luz y Viento", pp. 98, 174-175.
The song is among Granda's most famous and has been covered by many leading Latin artists, including Chavela Vargas, Tania Libertad, Ginamara Hidalgo, and Yamila Cafrune.
Recognition
In 1992, the government of Barranco dedicated the Parque Chabuca Granda, which includes statues both of Granda and of Jos Antonio riding a Peruvian Paso horse, as depicted in the song.
In 2017, Granda's body of musical work was declared a part of the "Patrimonio Cultural de la Nacin" ("Cultural Heritage of the Nation"). "Jos Antonio" was one of the emblematic works named in the declaration.
In 2019, 'La Repblica', one of the two major national newspapers in Peru, published its list of the six best songs of Granda that have represented Peru around the world. The list included "Jos Antonio". The magazine 'Caretas' also included the song in its 2020 listing of Granda's five most emblematic songs.
References
Further reading
* Ricardo Miranda Tarrillo, "Msica criolla del Per: Breve historia" (1989, Peru Ministerio de Educacin)
* G. Bulnes Mallea, "Chabuca: Semblanza de Isabel Granda Larco" (1990, Lima: Concytec)
* Florian Furtwngler, "Chabuca Granda: Musikalishe Impressionen aus Lima" (1980, video documentary by Radiodifusin Bvara)
Category:Peruvian songs
Category:Chabuca Granda songs
Category:1957 songs
Category:Songs written by Chabuca Granda
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